In January 2006, a very strange thing happened to me while I was keeping time with my TV. I saw someone on my screen who looked like Oprah, dressed like Oprah but did not sound or act like Oprah.  But it was  Oprah.

Yes, indeed. Channel 7, 4 PM EST was Oprah’s time slot for 20 years back in 2006. I even double-checked.  Was I living in a time warp bought about when hostile aliens transported me to a planet that had never heard of Oprah? Somehow I think aliens know who Oprah is and tune into her show along with reruns of Mash, Cheers and Will and Grace. Okay, that is what I would watch if I was related to ET.

The show was the interview between Oprah and James Frey, the author of A Million Little Pieces. This get together was after his book was exposed as a piece of fiction. Oprah had made his book an Oprah book club selection. She was helped make James a very rich author.

I watched the interview and had a sickening reaction to it. My strongest feeling was that I did not like Oprah anymore. Total blasphemy on my part. Off with her head!

James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces talked about his life as an addict and in recovery.  Only he didn’t live it himself. He did live a life similar to it.  I think there are only a couple of scripts when it comes to people spiraling into their own personal hell due to an addiction. But it wasn’t James’ story.

And his publishers sold James’ soul and pushed the book into bookstores and homes across the country because it made a compelling memoir… but not a great fictional account of a recovering addict? Go figure.  Good writing is good writing is good writing.  Maybe not?

I watched this former addict being ripped to shreds by Oprah.  Some said she ripped him a new one, and if there was an open fire pit, he would have been thrown into it. Along with his book.

Oprah’s words hit me like a slap across my face and all I did was tune in that day. Where was my Oprah?

If an addict came to me and said he wrote this compelling account while he was on crack, I would assume he had to make most of it up. My facts get downright foggy after 3 drinks. But I am not trying to be amusing. I have known addicts who tripped in and out of my life and their memory got pretty damn dim after a while. Nothing like listening to an addict tells you that he loves you – over and over because he keeps forgetting.

After the interview, I feared that James Frey would have been found in a dark alley, dead from a drug overdose. Thank God he had people who kept him going and kept him writing.

With Oprah’s show coming to an end, I was hoping that James Frey would end up sitting across from Oprah once again.

And then it happened. And it was a 2-part interview.

Thank you Oprah for stating two facts that had stayed with me since watching that interview in 2006: you had reacted out of ego and also did not show compassion.

It was a semi love fest and I think the power of forgiveness and responsibility on both their sides made for such a great life lesson.  We can rise above anything life throws our way and come out stronger and kinder.

It is no wonder why people have loved Oprah for over 25 years. She teaches us how to be the best we can be – even when it is a tad uncomfortable.

Now, is it too soon to ask about being on the cover of O? Oh, okay. Gayle will get back to me?

So you see Oprah and I are still talking to each other. Even if I have to play both roles.

© 2011, Coach on the Edge ™

elizabeth’s Creativity Coach site is: Coaching for the Creative Soul

Follow elizabeth on Twitter at: EdgyCoach or elizabethcoach

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Now, I am not trying to stir things up at O magazine headquarters, but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do.

For 37 weeks blogs had been written about getting on the cover of O and 37 weeks later, there has been no word from the Oprah camp.  And now Oprah is putting the finishing touches on her own TV empire with OWN network. I wish I had cool initials – maybe DVIA or QUEEN but alas I am just an unknown with EAC to call my own.

After much thought and time to reflect, I have come to the conclusion that Gayle King, BFF of Oprah’s and Editor at Large at O, should grace the cover of O. How gracious am I? At this time, I feel I have a better chance at being mistaken for Snooki from Jersey Shore than getting on the cover of O.

I just threw up a little when I wrote that last line. Is this not the ugliest group of people you have ever seen?  I wish I had a chance to talk to Jersey Shore’s parents about 25 years ago. A little birth control could have prevented this outbreak of trolls in New Jersey.

The Situation and Snooki after drinking all night.

But I digress.

I have decided (with the help from my sweetheart of a friend, Kim) that my mission is now to get on Ellen’s show. Ellen Degeneres – I will be blogging every week and asking my friends to help me get on your show.

I am doing this to make a healthy change in my life. Being on the cover of O means being air brushed so that your momma doesn’t recognize you.

Being on the Ellen Show means that there are sit ups, push ups, no carbs in my future. TV does put on weight and I won’t dare sit next to Ellen without getting trim and toned.

I do hope I forget about that last statement by next week.  But the need to be on Ellen’s show is my new goal.

Can’t you just see me dancing with Ellen on her show’s stage? Well, let’s start to visualize it.

© 2010, Coach on the Edge ™

elizabeth’s Creativity Coach site is: Coaching for the Creative Soul

Follow elizabeth on Twitter at: EdgyCoach or elizabethcoach

Please visit: My Views From The Edge

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elizabeth: So, Oprah, are you going to see your friends Julia Roberts’ and Liz Gilbert’s movie, Eat, Pray, Love this Friday?  Bet they can get you your own copy of the film. If yes, we would like to forego traveling to Italy (I’ll pick up a pizza), India and Indonesia and fly to your house and watch it with you. I promise I won’t fall asleep during this movie. Not while Javier Bardem is on the screen.  I guess having him on the screen is the next best thing to sitting real close to him while Penelope is going for another slice.

Laurie:  I still haven’t gotten around to reading the book so it is doubtful that I will be in line for the first showing of the movie.  However, I’m usually down for a good pizza with thin crust so count me in, Oprah.

elizabeth: I am really glad that Liz wrote this book. I think it helped a lot of people, and being on Oprah’s show and in O magazine did not hurt her sales and fan base either. It got the word out there that we are not alone and that we can learn from each other.

So Liz, if you are reading this blog, how did your life change by being in O magazine? That’s what I thought – we are communicating by telepathic means right now and she says that Oprah should put us on the cover of her magazine. Liz – you rock!

Laurie:  Do we have to share our pizza with Liz too?

© 2010, Coaches on the Edge ™

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys.

Stop by at elizabeth’s site at: Coaching for the Creative Soul

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Laurie:  Far be it from me to question your judgment, Lovely Oprah, but I was wondering if you were aware that Ellen DeGeneres will no  longer be a part of American Idol next season?  After one brief year she will not be returning as a judge on the ratings-slipping, once-popular show.  Now she says it is because she just can’t be cruel and judge people and possibly hurt their feelings.  Uh, clue coming up:  You were hired as a JUDGE.

elizabeth: I am stepping around this and please don’t go calling me “lovely.” For the record -  I’m not. But I so get Ellen and her reasons for leaving. She was not happy there and she found being a grim reaper of dreams did not fit her. I still have the emotional scars from some of the jobs and some of the bosses (they will be in my memoir – How I Survived Your Psychotic Moods and Stopped Shaking). I think Oprah would applaud Ellen for taking herself out of an environment that didn’t suit her. But I bet Oprah is a dream boss and we would be happy to spend some time with her at our photo shoot.

Laurie:  I would never disparage Ellen.  In fact I enjoy her humor and her dancing.  But I’m just saying that Coaches on the Edge may have been a better bet in the cover arena.  No, we don’t have the clout of Ellen or our own daily television show for that matter.  But so far, we haven’t quit anything.  Witness our persistence in contacting you every Wednesday, rain or shine.  Madam O, do it for the little people (and we’re working on getting even littler – elizabeth has this great new exercise plan she’ll tell you all about).  Put everyday gals on your cover and make them BIG people.  Then we can all get on elizabeth’s exercise plan.

elizabeth: Little people? We are already fabulous women who have a dream. And Oprah knows this and is getting ready to let us know. We’re waiting. And I am off the phone so Oprah can call now.

© 2010, Coaches on the Edge ™

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys.

Stop by at elizabeth’s site at: Coaching for the Creative Soul

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elizabeth: “I also realized this season that while I love discovering, supporting and nurturing young talent, it was hard for me to judge  people and sometimes hurt their feelings.” Now this last part sounds like me (when the evil twin is napping), but Ellen DeGeneres announced the other day that she is no longer going to be a judge on American Idol. Some people speculate that she got booted out. I believe she just had had it with making ratings by playing it cruel.

Laurie:  Surely Ms. DeGeneres didn’t think she was joining a youth glee club.  Her job as an American Idol judge is to crush dreams, pop unrealistic bubbles, discourage useless efforts, and if at all possible, do it as cruelly as possible.  Anybody who doesn’t know that has been living in a cave without cable.

elizabeth: Don’t get me wrong, some of the contestants were bloody awful. Their parents should be slapped for mixing their genes together, but no one deserves to be slammed in front of millions of people. Now this only goes for American Idol hopefuls. Certain politicians, TV and Radio hosts and the cast from the Jersey Shore do have it coming to them. What really upsets me about the “Shore Whores” group is that some of them are from the area I live in. Gives me another reason to get off this island! And just for the record, if I sounded like any of them, I would volunteer to have my tongue removed.

Laurie:  I stopped watching Ellen (but would start again if she had Coaches on the Edge as her guests) when I turned on the television one day and she was hysterically crying.  Like someone had swooped in and massacred her family and made her watch.  And then I find that the flowing tears were about a dog that was adopted by one family and had to be given to another.  Sad for one family I’m sure.  Worthy of five minutes of television crying time?  Not mine.  Touching but maybe a bit over the top.

elizabeth: So kudos to Ellen and thanks for setting an example about what how we should treat each other. The bottom line is that we need to be able to get up in the morning and face ourselves without a lot of regret.

And Ellen, if you are as nice as I think you are, Coaches on the Edge would be great guests for your new fall season. Just don’t tell Oprah. She is starting to see the wisdom in having us on the cover of O. We won’t stop you if you want to put a good word in for us.

And not to worry. There is a New York State law that prohibits me from singing within 500 yards of anything with a pulse. Sadly, Laurie has to cross state lines or face arrest.

Laurie:  Luckily I still have a pulse so I’m loving the sounds of silence.

© 2010, Coaches on the Edge ™

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys.

Stop by at elizabeth’s site at: Coaching for the Creative Soul

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